Trytrition verucous

THE Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has succeeded in breeding endangered salamanders at Kandawgyi Park’s Freshwater Fish Garden.

“This is the second time the department has succeeded in breeding these salamanders,” said U Saing Kyaw Myint, the administrator of the garden, which is run by the department.

“The first time was in 1992, but we had to stop due to lack of support.”

The main aim of the breeding program was to maintain the population of the Trytrition verucous species of salamander, which is close to extinction in Myanmar, and to educate zoological students and public about the amphibians, he said.

U Saing Kyaw Myint said the department’s experts started the natural breeding program on June 14, following advice collected from international experts and research papers found on the internet.

About 300 salamanders were born from 1000 eggs on June 23.

“The survival rate is very good, so we are planning to extend the breeding program,” said U Saing Kyaw Myint. “Depending on the success of the program, we will decide whether to export salamanders in future, but for now our only aim is preserving the species.”

The Department of Fisheries is responsible for protecting animal and plant species listed as threatened and endangered under the Myanma Wildlife Law, which is based on guidelines stipulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The department has banned the collecting, transportation and breeding of Trytrition verucous, which can be found in Myitkyina township in Kachin State, as well as parts of Shan State.